The Patriarch returns

One of the MCs of the SST, Mr Richard Hawker, has established a Blog entitled "When the Patriarch was returning." It is worth a visit.

http://whenthepatriarch.blogspot.com/

The title of the blog is a reference to an Anglo-Catholic hymn, sung by members of the Guild of the Servants of the Sanctuary; Mr Hawker belonged to this body in his younger, wilder, schismatic days.

It's a fine hymn, and a translation of a mediaeval Cluniac office hymn. I take the liberty of plagiarizing it here:

When the Patriarch was returning
Crowned with triumph from the fray,
Him the peaceful king of Salem
Came to meet upon his way;
Meekly bearing bread and wine,
Holy Priesthood's aweful sign.

On the truth thus dimly shadowed
Later days a luster shed;
When the great high-Priest eternal,
Under form of wine and bread,
For the world's immortal food
Gave his flesh and gave his blood.

Wondrous Gift! The Word who fashioned
All things by his might divine,
Bread into his body changes,
Into his own blood the wine;
What though sense no change perceives,
Faith admires, adores, believes.

He who once to die a Victim
On the cross did not refuse,
Day by day upon our altars,
That same Sacrifice renews;
Through his holy priesthood's hands,
Faithful to his last commands.

While the people all uniting
In the sacrifice sublime
Offer Christ to his high Father,
Offer up themselves with him;
Then together with the priest
On the living Victim feast.

Laud and honour to the Father,
Laud and honour to the Son
Laud and honour to the Spirit,
Ever three and ever one,
Consubstanial, co-eternal,
while unending ages run.
Amen.


If you would like the Latin, visit the blog!